by David Santisteven Jr.
LAS ANIMAS — In the face of a Saudi Arabia/ Russia oil war and a global COVID-19 pandemic, Evergreen Natural Resources Chairman/ CEO Mark Sexton, President and COO Michael Joy, their investors, and board of directors were faced last week with some tough decisions.
Sexton and Joy held a telephone press conference to talk about oil and gas prices that are continuing to drop and a 10 percent decrease in their workforce in their Trinidad and Denver offices. Sexton and Joy emphasized that Evergreen Natural Resources (ENR) is here to stay and that the oil/natural gas fields in Trinidad and Las Animas County have plenty of resources for the next 30 to 40 years.
Sexton and Joy met with local ENR workers at their field offices west of Trinidad late last week to let them know about the cuts and the future of ENR.
Joy said, “We are not shutting down. We are not leaving. We are as close to business as usual as we can possibly be. We knew 2020 would be tough in the oil and gas industry, and in early January we told our employees just that. But we did not expect what is going on with the COVID-19 virus, or with a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. At this time we will have a 10 percent layoff in both our Trinidad and Denver offices. This work reduction is a one time event. Some were volunteers who took one for the team and some were not. These people did nothing wrong, but their jobs were identified as the ones that could most easily be picked up by the existing work force. We did what we had to do. We are not planning to do any more layoffs. We are doing what it takes to cut costs everywhere and save jobs. We continue to work to be more efficient and avoid reductions in the future.” Sexton and Joy also said that ENR would continue to give back to the community in Trinidad and Las Animas County during this health crisis by offering their services and any possible logistical resources.
Sexton added, “Neighbors help neighbors in Trinidad and Las Animas County. We will work with the city, county, our local health care providers, volunteer organizers, our local school districts, and anyone else who needs us. We are here to help get our neighbors through these difficult times.”
Joy echoed Sexton’s statement by saying, “Our employees live in this great community and have families who go to school here, so it is very important for us to continue to be active and do what we can to assist with the special needs of the community.”
Jim Montoya, ENR’s public relations director told the World Journal, “ENR will be operating in Las Animas County for a long time to come and will do what it takes to help our community in this difficult time. We are neighbors helping neighbors.”
